Post Office: Streaming services creating 'nation of mobile homes'

The growth of streaming services such as Netflix and Google Play are helping to create a "nation of mobile homes", according to new research from Post Office HomePhone and Broadband.

Shares

According to the Post Office study, one in eight homes throughout the UK use streaming services to watch TV, with tablets and smartphones becoming the "go-to [internet] browsing devices" in a third of households.

Streaming or downloading video content is among the top three most popular uses of broadband internet connections at home, and its the 18-24 age group that's the "most likely" to stream content.

But the increasing popularity of watching video content via a smartphone or tablet may spell trouble for PCs and laptops in the home, with younger generations seemingly opting to go mobile.

PCs and laptops are the devices that account for 26 per cent and 44 per cent of home broadband usage, but nearly a quarter of 18-24-year-olds are choosing a smartphone as their preferred device.

Post Office HomePhone and Broadband head Hugh Stacey said: "Streaming and on-demand entertainment services respond to the needs of the time-poor consumer.

"While smartphones and tablets provide convenience when accessing the internet away from home, it’s interesting to see that they are now superseding the PC and laptop as the device of choice in nearly of third of households as well."